ARBITRATION ABOUT TO START

PSA Council met this morning to consider any final issues prior to the start of the Arbitration case. The Full Bench of the SA Industrial Relations Commission will hear argument aimed at securing a fair outcome for members in respect to salaries and paid maternity leave.

PSA is seeking a 6% per annum salary increase and 14 weeks paid maternity leave.

The special meeting of the PSA Council endorsed the submission of reports of PSA expert witnesses.

Professor James Guthrie of Sydney University has assessed productivity improvements in the South Australian Public Sector. Professor Guthrie's report, appendix B and appendix C are available for download in pdf format.

Dr Chris Briggs, also of Sydney University, deals with the role of the Consumer Price Index in contemporary wage setting. Dr. Biggs report is available here in pdf format.

The salaries component of the case will start to be heard by the Full Bench on 10 March, despite Government attempts to delay this through its own lack of preparation.

The maternity leave aspect of the case starts next week, with PSA expert witnesses Professor Barbara Pocock of the University of Adelaide and Federal Industrial Officer Suzanne Hammond commencing to give evidence on Monday 28 February. Professor Pocock's statement and Ms Hammond's statement are also available in pdf format.

Members will recall this whole delay and arbitration arose from the Government refusing to negotiate an Enterprise Agreement with PSA, and instead seeking arbitration.



23 February 2005